i also wanted to ask the role of pakistan. pakistan is a key regional actor in central asia. right now our relationship with pakistan is complicated. pakistan is obviously an important player in terms of regional stability in central asia. can you describe the -- how the pressler amendment has affected our relationship with pakistan? and how do you feel the united states needs to interact currently with pakistan and in the future? how do you feel we should use the aid as a weapon of influence based on the current relationship that we have now with pakistan? >> yeah, thank you, senator. i think pakistan is an enormously important country in the central command area of operations. in fact, when i was the acting commander, i considered it to be among probably the top one or two countries to be addressed. and we've had as you described it yourself, a very complex relationship with them. i think it's one we need to stick with. and to your point about the pressler amendment. that was a period in our history where we made a determination that we had such stark differences with pakis